SSOE Grouphttp://www.ssoe.com
Architects / Engineers / ManagersWed, 21 Feb 2018 14:17:24 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.1910 Key Attributes of Injury Free Workershttp://www.ssoe.com/10-key-attributes-of-injury-free-workers/
http://www.ssoe.com/10-key-attributes-of-injury-free-workers/#commentsMon, 19 Feb 2018 20:46:18 +0000http://blog.ssoe.com/safety/?p=367The following attributes and characteristics are the result of a nearly 10 year study and countless hours of personal interviews with employees who have worked their entire careers injury free. This study was conducted and shared by Dave Walline, Global Safety Leader for Owens Corning in Toledo. Carefully read each attribute and consider where you can improve so that one day you may also be an injury free worker.

Injury free workers:

Take their working career seriously.

Take 100% responsibility for their actions.

Always plan for a safe outcome.

Are hazard control managers.

Maintain a neat and orderly appearance.

Avoid complacency in their work.

Practice safety rules and procedures.

Have a positive attitude and outlook.

Use applied safety knowledge.

Have safety as a core value.

“Working safely may get old, but so do those who practice it.”

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/10-key-attributes-of-injury-free-workers/feed/1Emoticons Can Kill?http://www.ssoe.com/emoticons-can-kill/
http://www.ssoe.com/emoticons-can-kill/#commentsMon, 12 Feb 2018 16:40:23 +0000http://blog.ssoe.com/safety/?p=649Do you text? Read emails on your phone? Look at social updates? View your calendar? Browse the internet? I know, you may be thinking…”Well I don’t do that while I am driving!” If that’s the case, then I cannot be more proud of you and the decision you have made regarding safety! However, this is not a message regarding phone usage while driving, This message is about the dangers of texting and walking. By the way, the article on the newspaper is a true story!

Did you know that the number of emergency room visits for distracted walking injuries doubled between 2005 and 2010 to more than 1,500? This is just one of many statistics showing that distracted walking injuries are on the rise. And in 2011, for the first time ever, the National Safety Council started including distracted walking as a category in its annual report on unintentional deaths and injuries. This ongoing trend has even inspired a new word for these distracted walkers: Petextrian (n. one who texts while walking, usually unaware of their surroundings).

Why has this become such an issue? Texting while walking divides our attention on what we are doing, what we are looking at, and what we are paying attention to. This increases our chance of angering those around us (running into people, talking too loud on your phone in a public area, etc.), or worse, getting injured (falling, running into objects, getting hit by a car, etc). Ultimately, texting and walking is a lose-lose situation; and you don’t want it to be your life that you lose!

Remember the Basics (they’re important to everyone’s safety)

Look both ways before crossing the street.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Keep your eyes on the road, sidewalk, or path….slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of accidents and injuries.

Use caution when on the phone at all times, no matter what you are doing.

Take a break from the phone and social media when in route…it will be okay.

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/emoticons-can-kill/feed/0The Heart of the Matterhttp://www.ssoe.com/the-heart-of-the-matter/
http://www.ssoe.com/the-heart-of-the-matter/#commentsMon, 05 Feb 2018 19:23:20 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=103019There are many different kinds of heart disease. The most common is atherosclerosis (ath-uh-roh-skluh-roh-sis), the buildup of fatty deposits or plaques in the walls of arteries. As plaque builds up, there is less space for blood to flow normally and deliver oxygen through­out the body, including to the heart. Depending on where the buildup is, it can cause a heart attack, leg pain, or a stroke. Atherosclerosis is not part of normal aging and can be serious.

Problems with a rapid or irregular heartbeat are much more common in older adults than younger people and need to be treated. See a doctor if you feel a fluttering in your chest or have the feeling that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too hard, especially if you are weaker than usual, dizzy, or tired. Contact your doctor right away if you feel any chest pain. However, as you get older, chest pain is a less common sign of heart disease, so be aware of other symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you feel:

Pain in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back

Shortness of breath when active or at rest

Chest pain during physical activity that gets better when you rest

Lightheaded or dizzy

Confusion

Headaches

Cold sweats

Nausea/vomiting

Easily tired or fatigued

Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, stomach, and/or neck

Less able to exercise or be physically active

Problems doing your normal activities

There are choices you can make to prevent or delay heart disease, including:

Don’t smoke

Stay at a healthy weight

Avoid spending hours every day sitting

Exercise

Keep diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol under control

Manage stress

Don’t drink a lot of alcohol

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/the-heart-of-the-matter/feed/0Bolstering Healthy Lifestyleshttp://www.ssoe.com/bolstering-healthy-lifestyles/
http://www.ssoe.com/bolstering-healthy-lifestyles/#commentsMon, 29 Jan 2018 13:51:07 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=102984These little tricks may help keep you healthy, or start you in the right direction of becoming healthier. The healthier you are, the safer (and happier!) you will be.

Nutrition. Sometimes we’re just too busy to regularly cook meals or pack our lunches. If you eat out frequently, consider healthier choices on the menu (grilled or baked instead of fried, non-greasy, lower fat, etc.). If you don’t like the healthy alternatives at the restaurants you go to, try somewhere different. Also try changing the way you think about greasy and fried foods — like a vacation, it is important to treat yourself once or twice a year, but don’t think of those types of foods as an everyday option.

Overeating. Have a glass of water before your meal. You’ll feel fuller and will be less likely to overeat. Same thing goes for drinking alcohol; drinking water while consuming alcoholic beverages will keep your body hydrated, and you’ll be less likely to overindulge.

Exercise. Working out regularly is the best way to go. If you struggle to fit exercise in your daily routine,
find time at work to walk around the office. Consider walking over to a co-worker if you need to talk with
them instead of emailing or calling (when possible). Find time and reasons to get up and be mobile.

Smoking. If you haven’t already committed to quitting, try cutting out one of your routine cigarette breaks. If you succeed in cutting out one, then take the next step to cut out another. Small commitments will lead to big results!

Health. Stay home if you’re sick! I know this is really hard for all of us dedicated employees, but we are really not doing anyone a favor by passing along our germs. Even harder than missing work, is actually resting. Ground yourself to your bed or the couch for a period of time and allow your body to heal. Sleep. Sleep is extremely important for our body’s healing process.

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/bolstering-healthy-lifestyles/feed/0Safety Commitmenthttp://www.ssoe.com/safety-commitment/
http://www.ssoe.com/safety-commitment/#commentsMon, 15 Jan 2018 13:38:08 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=102981Are you a gambler? Are you willing to risk it all?
What happens when we “knowingly” commit an unsafe act or risky behavior? Ask yourself – Who loses the most? Who is affected by YOUR actions?

No matter if the risky behavior is on the job, at home or even on vacation, the consequences can be the same. The personal injury, financial burden, business impact, tarnished image and even death are all a reality when we are unsafe. With all this in mind, people need to make a decision that can lower and hopefully remove unsafe situations and bad behaviors.

The Weekly Safety Tips are one tool to help you learn about what can cause problems in your life. Sometimes they fit and sometimes they don’t but when they don’t, should you just ignore it? NO. We have an obligation to, not just protect ourselves but, protect others. Maybe it is a coworker, a friend, a stranger or even a family member.

For Safety’s Sake – Do Something to prevent a bad situation from occurring!

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/safety-commitment/feed/0Treacherous Travelshttp://www.ssoe.com/treacherous-travels/
http://www.ssoe.com/treacherous-travels/#commentsMon, 08 Jan 2018 13:31:41 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=102980This winter has been particularly harsh with the cold and snow. Your car needs to be mechanically fit and you need to be mentally prepared when you travel.

Your car needs to be winterized and running at peak performance for safe winter driving. Have a strong battery, fluids checked and full, fresh windshield wipers, and good tires for traction and control. Now is a good time to have all of the car’s systems checked before the first surprise snow and ice storm hit. Keep the gas tank full and your cell phone charged.

Always check the weather and plan accordingly – expect the unexpected. Program your car radio for traffic reports and emergency messages and check the weather apps on your phone. Let others know your route and travel times and give yourself extra time to arrive at your destination. Keep a minimum of extra clothing, a blanket, high calorie non-perishable food, and a first aid kit in your car. Depending on your travels, you will likely need to customize your survival kit.

Prepare yourself. Stay rested – stay alert. Driving in ice and snow requires you to be mentally alert and rely on past driving experience to analyze situations and stay safe. Visibility is often less, while reaction and stopping times are greater, during winter driving. Slow down, increase your distance between cars, and avoid texting and talking on the phone when driving in winter conditions.

Protect yourself. Always buckle up and make sure your passengers are, too. Slow down and leave plenty of room for snow plows to pass by, as they may cover your windshield with plowed snow as they pass, possibly eliminating visibility until your wipers can clear the snow. If your vehicle breaks down, pull as far off of the road as possible. Stay in the car and call for help. For road emergencies call 911.

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/treacherous-travels/feed/0Resolutions. You Can Make Them. But Can You Keep them?http://www.ssoe.com/resolutions-you-can-make-them-but-can-you-keep-them/
http://www.ssoe.com/resolutions-you-can-make-them-but-can-you-keep-them/#commentsMon, 01 Jan 2018 16:09:37 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=102906Making New Year resolutions? Here’s a few tips for success.

Don’t make too many resolutions. Pick a realistic, attainable goal with a reasonable time frame.

Choose your own resolution. Make sure your goal is something that you want to accomplish for yourself and not just for friends or family.

Make a plan and write it down. Plan what you’d like to accomplish in a certain period of time, like three months. Achieving small goals over time gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going. Writing your goals down is a good way to keep track of your progress.

Involve friends and family. They can support your efforts, and can motivate you to keep going.

If you get off track, forgive yourself. Review your plan and make adjustments.

We look forward to seeing everyone get back to work safely after the holidays. Please do your part to make that happen.

Please don’t drink and drive.

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/dont-drink-and-drive/feed/0Working Alonehttp://www.ssoe.com/working-alone/
http://www.ssoe.com/working-alone/#commentsMon, 18 Dec 2017 17:04:14 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=102038Working alone? Does someone know where you are? Will anyone know if you get hurt?

If you have to head into the office, or onto a site when no one else is working:

Have a plan in case of an emergency.

Keep your cell phone handy at all times.

Make sure that someone knows where you are, how long you will be there, and let them know if your plans change.

If you can, avoid performing tasks that normally require a second person (spotter) like climbing a ladder or heavy lifting.

USE COMMON SENSE.

]]>http://www.ssoe.com/working-alone/feed/0Poor Health Can be a Work Hazardhttp://www.ssoe.com/poor-health-can-be-a-safety-hazard/
http://www.ssoe.com/poor-health-can-be-a-safety-hazard/#commentsMon, 11 Dec 2017 16:02:25 +0000http://www.ssoe.com/?p=102134Health issues can be a safety hazard on the job. You are an integral part of your company’s success and you have a responsibility to be “health smart.”

Tips to be a healthy and safe employee:

Exercise

Stretch

Eat healthy

Maintain a healthy weight

Get plenty of rest

Get regular check-ups with your doctor

Remember to take any prescribed medications

Carry with you any necessary life saving medicine (inhaler, epipen, etc.)

Understand the environment you work in, and potential hazards that may exist

Ergonomic Health
According to OSHA, Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted time work time.

Work related MSDs can be prevented. Ergonomics (fitting a job to a person) helps lessen muscle fatigue, increases productivity and reduces the number and severity of work-related MSDs. Employees should work closely with Management to identify problems, receive ergonomic training, create and implement solutions, and encourage early reporting of any MSD symptoms (this will help prevent worsening of injury). For detailed information about office ergonomics visit https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/